Virus fails to dampen spirits at HITS event

Casey Mills of Marietta, GA, clears a jump aboard Secret Agent while competing in the high adult class at HITS Post Time Farm in Blitchton, FL near Ocala, Friday February 22, 2013. The annual Horse Shows In The Sun has hit its halfway point with the final Grand Prix happening on March 17th. (Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner)2013

Doug Engle/ Ocala Star-Banner

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 5:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 5:19 p.m.

At just past the halfway point of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, exhibitors remain positive and eager to compete despite concerns of a potentially fatal horse illness discovered on the grounds last week.

Casey Mills of Marietta, GA, clears a jump aboard Secret Agent while competing in the high adult class at HITS Post Time Farm in Blitchton, FL near Ocala, Friday February 22, 2013. The annual Horse Shows In The Sun has hit its halfway point with the final Grand Prix happening on March 17th. (Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner)2013

Doug Engle/ Ocala Star-Banner

The nine-week show, which runs through March 17, holds its competition at Post Time Farm near Blitchton off U.S. 27. Hundreds of horses come on and off the grounds each day for competitions ranging from novice classes to professional-level events.

Last week, however, one of those horses showed signs of illness, and tests showed it had equine herpes virus (EHV-1).

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Animal Industry allowed the competition to continue, but issued a quarantine on the tent where the affected horse was housed. About 50 other horses in the tent will be kept in the stable area for at least 21 days. Additionally, a local farm was also placed under quarantine.

On Sunday, the state announced the EHV-1 virus found in the HITS horse was of the wild strain, not the more aggressive mutant strain.

The state also announced five other quarantine orders related to the HITS case. Those quarantines affect two other Ocala area farms and farms in Pinellas Park, St. Augustine and Wellington. Those quarantines were spurred by horses that came into contact with the affected horse.

No other horses have shown symptoms of the illness, which affects the neurological system of the animal, according to the state.

Organizers of the show said the situation seemed under control.

“Hopefully, this will be a blip and we will be back going hard,” said Tom Struzzieri, president and CEO of HITS, which stands for Horse Shows in the Sun.

Struzzieri started the show 32 years ago in Gainesville before moving it to Ocala in the 1980s. Since then, the company has expanded across the country, holding nine circuits from California to New York.

“I never thought it would be this successful. It affects a lot of people and affects a lot of livelihoods as well. I'm as proud of my Ocala circuit as any other. It's the one I bring my family to because it's so pleasant,” he said.

Debbie McCarthy, who is from Bedford, N.Y., said the Ocala HITS show is her favorite.

“We love it. We just arrived last week and absolutely love it,” said McCarthy, who competes and also brings her riding students to compete.

McCarthy, who rides a statuesque Dutch warmblood named Carma, said the level of competition and climate keep her coming back,

“It's a lot better than being in the snow,” she said.

Callie Morgan Smith, of Bernardsville, N.J., was also enjoying the warmer weather, though not as much as her horses.

“It's better than the cold up north, but it's just a little bit too hot for me. The horses really like it,” said the 19-year-old, whose cheeks were red from the warmth.

Smith has attended the Ocala show for years and has ridden since she was a 5-year-old.

“It's been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I don't think I would give it up for anything,” she said.

Struzzieri said it's that kind of dedication to the lifestyle that keeps the shows growing.

“This year we went to nine weeks, next year we are looking to add a week and maybe add a couple of very special classes here and make this circuit stand out even more to the high-performance riders,” he said. “Ocala attracts everybody. That is what makes this show so unique.”

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